As part of the OCHS restructuring plan Advanced Placement (AP) classes became year-long two-credit courses and community college classes were available in the high school. In '94-95 Orange County pioneered a "Future Scholars" scholarship program to help their high school students pay for postsecondary study.

Finding that tuition for a postsecondary class (45 hours) is often less than staffing costs for a high school class (150 hours),Orange County set up scholarships for classes taken instead of high school classes. Their 1100 students can complete high school and get up to a year of study beyond the high school level at no additional cost. Start-up funding for the scholarship program came from the summer school budget which was no longer needed with the 4x4 schedule. For 1997-98, Orange County offers a $150 scholarship which is sufficient to cover the tuition for a three-semester hour community college class.

Orange County awards its "Future Scholars" scholarships on the basis of academic achievement, attendance, and behavior. OCHS seniors and juniors who are absent no more than 5 days each semester and are not above Step 1 on the disciplinary scale are eligible. Eligible juniors and seniors with a cumulative 3.0 GPA (grade point average) on a four-point scale receive three scholarships which can be used at any accredited state postsecondary school or for an AP exam. Those with a 2.5 GPA earn two scholarships; seniors with a 2.0 get one. Students must be admitted by the postsecondary institution in order to use their scholarships.

Since going to their 4x4 four years ago, the per cent of juniors and seniors completing college level courses has risen from 11% to 27%. For 1996-97, 37% of the senior class enrolled in AP and community college classes. In 1994-95, the first year of the program, 62 of 113 eligible seniors used their $100 scholarships for a cost of $7,900. The second year scholarships equaled the tuition for a three-semester hour college course and 80 of 123 eligible seniors used the scholarships to take college-level classes and AP exams costing $19,100. For the 1996-97 school year, 131 OCHS students used more than $25,000 in scholarships taking college-level courses.

As expected, GPA's are improving and enrollment in AP and college classes is going up. For 1997-98, 130 members of the Class of ‘98 and 133 members of the Class of ‘99 are eligible for scholarships. Almost 60% of these recipients had a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher and are eligible for three scholarships. With more scholarships available, OCHS student requests for AP and community college classes continue to grow....

Address questions and comments to the 4x4 High School.